Hot metal pump



Dec. 26, 1961 MURARSHEED HOT METAL PUMP 2 Sheets$heet 1 Filed March 1, 1960 INVENTOR. LATEEF MURARSHEED ATTORNEY Dec. 26, 1961 L. MURARSHEED 3,014,432

HOT METAL PUMP Filed March 1, 1960 2 Sheets-$heet 2 j BY 1 .1 1 A fl 9 30 I8 30 29 ATTORNEY United States This invention relates to a pump for lifting hot metal such as molten iron, steel or linotype metal.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a hot metal pump utilizing gas pressure for lifting molten metal.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a hot metal pump incorporating rotary valve means controlling the flow of hot metal into lifting position in the pump.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a hot metal pump that will operatepartially submerged in molten metal without being damaged thereby.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a hot metal pump that may be positioned in a container of molten metal and used to continuously lift the molten metal out of the container.

The hot metal pump disclosed herein comprises a device for moving molten metals such as iron, and steel which metals have heretofore been handled by ladles requiring the pouring of the hot metal therefrom. The presently disclosed hot metal pump eliminates the irregular and indefinite volume of metal transferred by pouring from a ladle as has heretofore been common in the metal working industry. The hot metal pump disclosed herein utilizes gas pressure for lifting hot metal and controls the application of the gas pressure and the admission of the hot metal to the pressurized portions of the pump by a V rotating valve which alternately permits gas pressure and hot metal to enter the lifting portions of the pumpb With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosenfor purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the hot metalpump.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectionon line 22 of FIG- URE l.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1. I

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section on line 44 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section with parts broken away on line 5--5 of FIGURE 1.

By referring to the drawings and FIGURE 1 in particular it will be seen that the hot metal pump comprises a main body" member which is formed er refractory material and is capable of withstanding temperatures at which metals liquify. The main body member 10 has a cap 11 also formed of refractory material positioned on its uppermost end and a rotor 12 also formed of refractory material positioned on its lowermost end. The rotor 12 has a centrally positioned tubular stem atet ice

13 thereon which is rotatably disposed vertically in a centrally disposed cylindrical opening in the main body member 10 and extends upwardly through the top 11. A base 14 formed of refractory material is positioned beneath the rotor 12 and has centrally disposed vertical stem 14A thereon which extends upwardly through the tubular stem 13 of the rotor 12 and upwardly through the top 11. The main body member 10, the top 11 and the base 14 are assembled and maintained in stationary relationship.

The rotor 12 and its tubular stem 13 are adapted to be rotated by a ring gear 15 attached to the uppermost end of the tubular stem 13.

A spur gear 16 positioned on the end of a drive shaft 17 imparts rotary motion to the gear 15 and to the tubular stem 13 and the rotor 12. The base 14 has a metallic reinforcing member 18 therein, a portion of which extends vertically through the stem 14A thereof and extends upwardly out of the top 11. An apertured disc 19 is positioned over the reinforcing member 18, the upper end of which is threaded and nuts 20 are positioned on either side of the disc 19. Threaded studs 21 are positioned through other apertures inthe disc 13 and engaged in threaded apertures in the top 11 coil springs 22 are positioned between the top 11 and the disc 19. Thus, the base 14, its stem 14A and its metal reinforcing member 18 are suspended from the disc 19 and thereby held in operative relation against the bottom of the rotor 12 which in turn is held thereby against the bottom of the main body a member 10.

The top 11 has a pair of hanger bars 23 engaged there in, the hanger bars 23 having eyelets at their uppermost ends serving as means for suspending the hot metal pump from an overhead support as for example as necessary when the hot metal pump is suspended above and lowered into a pool of molten metal to be pumped thereby.

By referring now to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the main body member 10 has a pouring spout 24 extending from one side thereof and that the pouring spout 24 has a passageway therein communicating with an annular passageway 25 formed within the main body member 10 and positioned in inclined relation thereto as best seen in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. Vents 26, 26 extend upwardly in the main body member 11 from the annular passageway 25 and outwardly to communicate with the exterior of the main body member 10 as may be seen in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

By referring now to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, a plan view of the rotor 12 may be seen and it will be observed that it is provided with two annularly positioned rows of circumferentially spaced openings, the outermost annular row of openings being indicated by the reference numerals 27, 27 and the innermost annular row of openings being indicated by the reference numerals 28, 28.

By referring now to FIGURE. 4 of the drawings, itwill be seen thatthe base 14 has a pair of arcuate shaped openings 2%, 29 extending vertically therethroughjand in vertical registry with the inner row of openings 28, 28

in the rotor 12. A second pair of arcuate shaped openings extending vertically through the base 14 are not visible in the section comprising FIGURE 4 as they are positioned on an annular center line corresponding with the annular center line of the annular row of openings 27, 2 7 in the rotor (see FIGURE 3 which are not visible in the section comprising FIGURE .4. The. arcuate shaped openings 29 in the base 14 permit hot metal to flow upwardly therethrough and through registering openings 28, 28 in the rotor 12. The base 14 and its central vertical stern 14A have a plurality of gas passageways 30, 30 therein which passageways 3t 30 extend downwardly through the stem 14A of the base 14 and outwardly through the base 14, radially thereof, and then upwardly on the annular center lines of the annular rows of openings 27, 27 and 28, 28 in the rotor 12.

The main body member has a plurality of vertically positioned hot metal passageways 31, 31 circumferentially thereof and communicating at their uppermost ends with the annular passageway 25. The vertically positioned hot metal passageways 31, 31 are circumferentially spaced in the main body member 10 so that their lowermost ends, which are joined in common openings 32, are in vertical alignment with the gas passageways 30, 30 in the base 14. Secondary vents 33, 33 are positioned in the main body member 10 and extend vertica ly from the bottom surface thereof and then outwardly to communicate with the exterior thereof. The bottommost portions of the vents 33, 33 register with the annular rows of openings 27 and 38 in the rotor 12.

Still referring to FIGURE 4, it will be seen that the uppermost ends of the gas passageways 3t 3t communicate with tubes 34, 34 which in turn extends to a source or gas under pressure.

Operation In operation a source of rotary motion (not shown) is applied to the drive shaft 17 which causes the gear 16 to engage the ring gear and rotate the tubular stem 13 and the rotor 12 which actions causes the annular rows of openings 27, 27 and 28, 28 to move into and out of registry with the arcuate shaped openings 29, 29 in the base 14 and the openings 32, 32 in the main body member 10 which communicate with the hot metal passageways 31. Gas under pressure is delivered through the tubes 34 to the gas passageways 30, 30. The device is positioned in molten metal with the lower portion thereof submerged, the level of the molten metal being indicated in FIGURES 4 and 5 by the broken line L. Molten metal flows upwardly through the arcuate shaped openings 29 in the base 14 and into the openings 27, 27 and 28, 28 in the rotor 12 and into the vents 33, 33 in the lower portion of the main body member 10. The rotor 12 revolves moving the molten metal in the openings 27, 27 and a 28, 28 out of registry with the arcuate shaped openings 29, 29 in the base 14 and out of registry with the vents 33, 33 in the main body member 10 and into registry between the gas passageways 30, 30 in the base 14 and the openings 32, 32 in the main body member 10 which communicate with the hot metal passageways 31, 31 and therein. The gas pressure from the gas passageways 30, moves the molten metal out of the openings 27, 27 and 28, 28 in the rotor 12 upwardly into the openings 32, 32 and passageways 31, 31 in the main body member 10 and this action is constantly repeated as the rotor 12 turns so that a continuous flow of molten metal rises in the hot metal passageways 31, 31 and flows into the annular hot metal passageway 25 where it flows by gravity out of the pouring spout 24.

g It will be observed that the arcuate shaped openings 29, 29 in the base 14 conform in width and length to the arrangement of the groups of openings 27, 27 and 23, 28 in the rotor 12, and that they are positioned through the base 14 so that they are in registry with the groups of openings 27, 27 and 28, 28 in the motor 12 when the groups of openings 27, 27 and 28, 28 are in registry with the vents 33, 33 in the main body member 19.

It will thus be seen that through the application of rotary motion to the rotor 12 and the supplying of gas under pressure to the tubes 34 of the hot metal pump a resulting pumping or lifting action of the molten metal is obtained which eificiently transfers the hot metal from the lowermost base portion 14 of the hot metal pump to the pouring spout 24 thereof.

It will also be seen that due to the arrangement of the groups of openings 27, 27 and 28, 28 in the rotor 12 four pumping cycles per revolution of the rotor 12 are obtained and it will be observed that the number of openings in the rotor 12 as well as the number of groups of such openings may be varied in forming hot metal pumps of varying capacities.

It will thus be seen that a hot metal pump has been disclosed which meets the several objects of my invention and having thus disclosed my invention, what I claim is:

1. A hot metal pump comprising a body member having at least one hot metal passageway therein, a pouring spout on said body communicating with said hot metal passageway, a base positioned below said body member in spaced relation thereto, at least one gas passageway in said base communicating with the upper surface thereof, said body member having at least one opening positioned vertically therethrough on a vertical line extending through said gas passageway and into said hot metal passageway, a rotor rotatably positioned between said body member and said base and having its upper surface engaging the bottom of said body member and its lower surface engaging the top of said base, a portion of said rotor extending out of said main body member and mechanical means for rotating said rotor thereby, at least one opening in said rotor in a position for registry with said vertical opening in said body member and with said gas passageway in said base, said base being positioned relative to said body member with said gas passageway in vertical alignment with said vertical opening therein, said base having an opening therethrough circumferentially spaced with respect to said gas passageway therein and in alignment with said opening in said rotor.

2. The hot metal pump set forth in claim 1 and where in said portion of said rotor extending out of said body member comprises a central hollow stern positioned in a centrally disposed opening in said body member.

3. The hot metal pump set forth in claim 1 and wherein said portion of said rotor extending out of said body member comprises a centrally disposed hollow stem positioned in a centrally disposed opening in said body member, and wherein said base has a vertical stem thereon positioned in said hollow stem of said rotor, a supporting structure on the top of said body member engaging said stem of said base and urging it upwardly against said rotor and said body member.

4. A hot metal pump comprising a body member of refractory material having a central vertical opening therethrough and an annular hot metal passageway therein, a pouring'spout on said body member communicating with said annular hot metal passageway, said body member having secondary hot metal passageways therein extending downwardly from said annular hot metal passageway to the bottom of said body member, a plate positioned above said body member and means resiliently supporting said plate on said body member, a rotor having at least one vertical opening off center therein arranged for registry with said secondary hot metal passageways in said body member,.a hollow stem on said rotor positioned centrally thereof and extending upwardly through said central vertical opening in said body member, a base positioned beneath said rotor, a secondary stem on said base centrally thereof and extending upwardly through said hollow stern of said rotor, said secondary stem being attached to said plate, a ring gear on the upper end of said hollow stem of said rotor and mechanical means for imparting rotary motion to said ring gear for rotating said rotor, said base and said secondary stem thereof h g at least One p g w y therein, one end of said gas passageway terminating on the upper surface of said base off-center thereof and in vertical alignment with said 011 center opening in said rotor, the other end of 5 said gas passageway being located at the upper end of said secondary stem, said base having at least one vertical opening therethrough ofi center With respect to said secondary stern and in alignment with said 011 center opening in said rotor.

5. The hot metal pump set forth in claim 4 and wherein a reinforcing member having a vertical section is disposed Within said base and secondary stem and the upper end of said reinforcing member extends out of the upper end of said secondary stem and is adjustably secured to 10 said plate.

6. The hot metal pump set forth in claim 4 and wherein coil springs are positioned between said body member and said plate for resiliently mounting said plate and urging said plate and said secondary stem and said base in one direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

